Cross: A Novel (Jack Taylor Novels)

Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in a hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jack's investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice. Ken Bruen's Cross is suspenseful and deeply moving mystery.

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Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, March 2008: In Cross, the sixth book in Ken Bruen's brutal and brilliant Jack Taylor series, the Galway private investigator (think a more tortured and tragic--and Irish-- Jack Reacher) is on the hunt for a psychopath, while his surrogate son/mentee, victim of a shooting meant to kill Jack, lies near death in a hospital. Fair warning: even for Bruen fans, this is seriously dark stuff (the killer crucifies one victim and burns another alive), brimming with violence, guilt, and a brooding morality akin to the best of Dennis Lehane. We have been in love with Bruen's sharp, spare prose since first stumbling across The Killing of the Tinkers, and we're certain that his dark, reluctant hero will draw many a hard-boiled fan from the likes of Jim Thompson and James Ellroy, as well new favorites Charlie Huston and Duane Swierczynski. -- Daphne Durham

Questions for Ken Bruen

Amazon.com: Now that you’ve been writing about him for six books, how do you approach a new Jack Taylor novel. Do you think "I'm going to make this darker and grislier than the last?"

Bruen: I mostly think about how I'm going to keep him fresh and interesting and deepen his character, I don't deliberately try to be dark, it's the way he is.

Amazon.com: What is the best thing about writing about a character like Jack Taylor? Who would win in a fight, Brant or Taylor?

Bruen: He continually surprises me and I get to see how deep the abyss can be. Brant would easily win the fight: Jack would be getting ready and Brant would just instantly take him down.

Amazon.com: Clearly you are a big reader, you reference books so often in your novels. What books or authors do you find yourself recommending to readers again and again?

Amazon.com: Is there an author or artist you've read or listened to lately whose work surprised or inspired you?

Bruen: Elizabeth Zelvin is the light to Jack's dark. Craig McDonald wrote a hell of a debut. Alex Sokoloff scares the living daylights out of me. Louise Ure...she is just poetry in motion. Tom Piccirilli--the man is noir personified. Alan Flynn is going to be huge and find lots of readers outside of Scotland.

Amazon.com: If you had to give up books or music for one year which would you give up?

Bruen: Music. I can live with silence but...no reading? Shoot me now.

Amazon.com: How would you describe your work to someone who has no idea what you do?

Bruen: Imagine terrible circumstances that will make you laugh out loud and then want to hang yourself. Best of all, when you're a writer, you can read the work with little effort; it comes over like a chat in your favorite pub. It's like a kick in the head and a blast of Jameson, no ice, with a group of friends who are going to keep you right on the edge.

(photo credit: Andrew Downes)

From the Back Cover:

LET US PREY A boy has been crucified in Galway city. People are shocked; the Irish Church is scandalized. No further action is taken. When the sister of the murdered boy is burned alive, PI Jack Taylor decides to take matters into his own hands. Taylor’s investigations take him to some old city haunts where he encounters ghosts - living and dead. But what he eventually finds surpasses even his darkest imaginings… Cross is a terrifying, uncompromising road-trip to Hell, and back. Do not expect to put it down unscathed. ‘A compelling portrait of a haunted man’ Guardian ‘A gripping story of guilt and redemption’ Independent on Sunday

Book Description Minotaur Books, 2009. Book Condition: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: "His insights into pain, loss and Irishness are unforgettable." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "An amazing portrait of a peculiarly Irish form of despair, and nary a page passes without a memorably mordant laugh, a wonderful turn of phrase, or an aphorism that any crime fan will want to share with another devotee." --Booklist (starred review) "This is dark-side stuff from a master." --Kirkus Reviews "We've been in love with Bruen's sharp, spare prose since first stumbling across The Killing of the Tinkers, and we're certain that his dark, reluctant hero will draw many a hard-boiled fan from the likes of Jim Thompson and James Ellroy as well as new favorites Charlie Huston and Duane Swierczynski." --Amazon.com--A "Significant 7" pick for the best books of March '08 "Bruen's latest is classic Irish noir--bitter, dark and packing a kick, a literary pint of Guinness Extra Stout with a shot of Jameson on the side." --The Chicago Tribune "CROSS sucks you into the dark, gritty streets of Galway." --Entertainment Weekly "[A] bleak and brilliant series.Bruen's writing matches the plight of [Jack] Taylor and of his home, Galway---hard defensive, lyrical and heartbreaking. I've never been a fan of audiobooks, but I'd get one in a minute just to hear the caustic comedy of this Irish voice unfold." --The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) "Bruen's previous novel, PRIEST, is a finalist for this year's Edgar Award, and it's a terrific story of vengeance. CROSS, however, may be even better, another dark journey into a tarnished Emeral Isle and a damaged soul on the verge of surrendering hope forever. 'If I continued as I was, Galway would kill me,' Jack thinks. Here's hoping Bruen gives him another shot at redemption." --The Miami Herald. Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_new_0312538847

Book Description Minotaur Books, United States, 2009. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Reprint. 206 x 137 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book. Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in a hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jack s investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice.Ken Bruen s Cross is a suspenseful and deeply moving mystery. Bookseller Inventory # AAB9780312538842

Book Description ST MARTINS PR, 2009. PAP. Book Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from US within 10 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Bookseller Inventory # IQ-9780312538842

Book Description Minotaur Books, United States, 2009. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Reprint. 206 x 137 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book. Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in a hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jack s investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice.Ken Bruen s Cross is a suspenseful and deeply moving mystery. Bookseller Inventory # AAB9780312538842

Book Description Minotaur Books 2009-03-31, 2009. Book Condition: New. Brand new book, sourced directly from publisher. Dispatch time is 24-48 hours from our warehouse. Book will be sent in robust, secure packaging to ensure it reaches you securely. Bookseller Inventory # NU-ING-00293167

Book Description Minotaur Books. Paperback / softback. Book Condition: new. BRAND NEW, Cross, Ken Bruen, Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in a hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jack's investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice. Bookseller Inventory # B9780312538842

Book Description Minotaur Books. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Paperback. 288 pages. Dimensions: 8.1in. x 5.4in. x 0.9in.Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in a hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer. Jacks investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should sell up, pocket his Euros and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. Then the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, and Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of rough justice. Ken BruensCross is suspenseful and deeply moving mystery. This item ships from multiple locations. Your book may arrive from Roseburg,OR, La Vergne,TN. Paperback. Bookseller Inventory # 9780312538842